We arrived in Hama in the afternoon and stayed two days. It’s a small town, much quieter than Aleppo and seemed to be wee kids absolutely everywhere. Less conservative than Aleppo and while there wasn’t too much to do in Hama, there was plenty around the area to keep us busy. If any of you are in Hama, Ali Baba does the most wicked falafel sandwich for the S£20 which is about 20p. We just about lived on them while we were there. Hama is famous for its water wheels, or norias as they’re called. They’re incredible structures and, because they’re completely made of (absolutely water-soaked) wood the sound they make when they turn is a constant groaning sound that is so loud you almost have to yell to get yourself heard. The largest was 20m in diameter so quite a sight. I was fascinated by them and insisted on getting right up close but the power with which they pushed through the water would have meant I didn’t last long if I fell in! Some were in pairs, others on their own and there were heaps of them along the riverside.
The biggest noria at about 20m diameter
We bumped into one of the chaps we’d met previously and caught up with him (and someone else he’d bumped into) for a few drinks (and a smiling competition which they won hands down. For those of you that know Euan, you’ll realise that he is trying really really hard :-)
Following day we headed off to see a few castle, the famous Crac de Chevalier being one. Crap day – pouring with rain but it stopped while we were there thankfully. We stopped off in Musyaf to check out the citadel – check out the view of a concrete jungle.
Crac de Chevalier was pretty amazing – built in the 12th century its perched high on a hilltop and impossible (it would seem) to conquer. The crusader knights gave up after a month when they had five years of supplies!! What were they thinking? Its pretty cool to explore as you’re free to scramble literally all over, through, under and down. We took our head lamps so we could explore the dark alleyways under the castle but didn’t spend too long as they seemed to have morphed from exciting places where cool things happened into toilets. It was incredibly windy while we were there and it was getting difficult to walk and stand when up high. There were these cool goats grazing around the base with big long Basset Hound-type ears that were whipping them in the face as they ate.
That evening in Hama, this chap was doing some juggling with a tennis racket to some incredibly loud music and he was very clever but so out of place with all the families, ladies wearing burka and the kids… and check out his get-up. What a dag!
From Hama to Palmyra via bus the next morning.
The biggest noria at about 20m diameter
We bumped into one of the chaps we’d met previously and caught up with him (and someone else he’d bumped into) for a few drinks (and a smiling competition which they won hands down. For those of you that know Euan, you’ll realise that he is trying really really hard :-)
Following day we headed off to see a few castle, the famous Crac de Chevalier being one. Crap day – pouring with rain but it stopped while we were there thankfully. We stopped off in Musyaf to check out the citadel – check out the view of a concrete jungle.
Crac de Chevalier was pretty amazing – built in the 12th century its perched high on a hilltop and impossible (it would seem) to conquer. The crusader knights gave up after a month when they had five years of supplies!! What were they thinking? Its pretty cool to explore as you’re free to scramble literally all over, through, under and down. We took our head lamps so we could explore the dark alleyways under the castle but didn’t spend too long as they seemed to have morphed from exciting places where cool things happened into toilets. It was incredibly windy while we were there and it was getting difficult to walk and stand when up high. There were these cool goats grazing around the base with big long Basset Hound-type ears that were whipping them in the face as they ate.
That evening in Hama, this chap was doing some juggling with a tennis racket to some incredibly loud music and he was very clever but so out of place with all the families, ladies wearing burka and the kids… and check out his get-up. What a dag!
From Hama to Palmyra via bus the next morning.
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